A 38-year-old man was arrested early morning on Sept. 8, after he had rammed his car into Santa Clara police cars and a Santa Clara police officer shot and wounded him, San Jose police said.
Manuel Gabriel Rico of San Jose was booked into the Santa Clara County jail on multiple charges and on a felony warrant for assault with a firearm, police said in the night of Sept. 9.
About 5:08 a.m. on Sept. 9, a Santa Clara police officer spotted a stolen GMC Jimmy with Rico the only occupant. Several Santa Clara police officers tried to pull Rico over at Stevens Creek Boulevard and Cypress Avenue near the Santa Clara-San Jose border. Rico did not stop, instead of leading police on a pursuit both on surface streets and on the freeway.
In the area of Mayellen Avenue and Scott Street in San Jose, Rico allegedly rammed his GMC into several Santa Clara Police vehicles. At one point, a Santa Clara officer fired his weapon at Rico, who was hit at least once by gunfire, San Jose police said. Still, it took a police dog to bring Rico down, police added.
San Jose police were called at about 5:20 a.m. because the pursuit ended and the shooting occurred in San Jose. San Jose police were not involved in the vehicle pursuit or the shooting.
Rico, found to have a loaded stolen handgun in his possession, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and the San Jose Police Department’s Homicide Unit are conducting a joint criminal investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Sgt. Raul Martinez or Det. Brian Meeker at 408-277-5283.
Persons wishing to remain anonymous may either call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line, (408) 947-STOP (7867), or click the “Submit a Tip” link below. Persons providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect may be eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers.
